Summary

In 1939, Soviet Nino Dumbadze had broken the world record set by 1936 champion Gisela Mauermayer. But as the USSR was not yet a member of the IAAF it was not recognized, nor were three other world record marks she set between 1939 and 1946. Finally, in 1948 Dumbadze set an IAAF-ratified world record but the Soviet Union did not compete at the 1948 Olympics. Still, Dumbadze was favored in 1952, having won the European Championships in both 1946 and 1950, but in 1952 she was challenged by teammate Nina Romashkova. Romashkova took the lead in the final with 50.84 (166-9¾) in the second round, and increased that with 51.42 (168-8½) in round three. That sealed the victory, as Dumbadze did not perform up to her standard, winning only a bronze medal behind fellow Soviet Yelizaveta Bagryantseva. This was the first ever medal sweep by a nation in women’s track & field athletics. Two months after the Olympics Dumbadze would set her final world record with 57.04 (187-1¾) at a national meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia.

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